Kenya and Ukraine set to improve diplomatic ties

Ukrainian Honorary Consul Oleksii Sierkov with Daisy Nyaga GM Reagan Coffee Limited, Chris Mwai and Maureen Mutia group CEO Holiday cars and tours during Odesa trade and cultural event. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Kenya and Ukraine are keen to improve their diplomatic ties with a delegation visiting the country next week with an agenda of improving collaboration between the two states in various spheres.

The Ukrainian delegation with representatives from civil, academic, cultural and political communities will be led by Lesia Vasylenko, a Member of Parliament with the aim of boosting the efforts made by a previous delegation from the Nation which is trying to rebuild itself following a protracted war with her neighbour Russia.

Vasylenko in a statement said that Kenya and Ukraine share the same values of democracy and belief in the right to self-determination, as well as both being hustler nations with a promising future ahead of them which require hard work and determination by the citizens of the two friendly nations.

“A pertinent role of our delegation to Kenya will be to work towards the development of closer working ties between the Ukrainian and Kenyan parliaments through various areas of common interest in efforts to serve the citizens of our two countries even better,” said Vasylenko.

The delegation will meet National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula so that they can deliberate on the best ways that the Parliaments of Kenya and Ukraine can work together with Vasylenko saying that their country regards Kenya as a crucial partner in the African continent.

The Ukrainian MP said that the two countries can collaborate in agriculture, technology and even space exploration by opening up dialogue between the lawmakers of the two countries paving the way for cooperation in various sectors of mutual benefit.

Vasylenko said the Ukraine- Russia war had deeply affected the supply of grains to various countries around the globe, necessitating Ukraine developing a new drone technology which could help Kenyan farmers boost agricultural production to ensure food security in the country.

“One potential growth area for Kenyan-Ukrainian cooperation is in agricultural technology, Ukraine is one of the largest agricultural producers in the world, Ukraine has developed exciting new drone technology which could help Kenyan farmers to boost agricultural production,” said Vasylenko.

Oleksandr Khomiak, the Executive Director of the No Labels NGO, is an expert in drone technology and he is due to meet Kenyan agri-tech specialists at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Fred Nyamu the founder of agritech business Farm.

Khomiak said that the war between Ukraine and Russia has cut off vital food supplies to many parts of the world, particularly Africa leading to food prices skyrocketing and causing people to starve and that by sharing Ukrainian cutting-edge agri-tech, they can help other countries feed their people easily.

Center for National Resilience Studies director and the former Chargé d’Affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy in Nairobi Oleh Bielokolos, will meet academicians, including those from the University of Nairobi and the Prospect Peace Institute to discuss potential joint research projects.

“The colonisation history of Kenya has close resemblance with Ukraine’s experience of aggression from Russia, this provides Ukrainians and Kenyans with a unique perspective, there is an opportunity here to explore how the world’s smaller countries can work together to resist exploitation,” said Bielokolos.

The delegation also aims to strengthen cultural relations between Ukraine and Kenya, exploring opportunities to showcase Ukrainian artists in Kenya and build partnerships with art, music and literature festivals, museums, and other cultural institutions.

Anastasia Kapranova, the Programme Manager for Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa at the Ukrainian Institute responsible for promoting a better understanding of Ukrainian culture internationally said their country artists are producing incredible work, in resistance to the Russian invasion.